Salvador Rodriguez

Some are fascinated with 3D printing. One man can't get it out of his head.

An unidentified man had 75 per cent of his skull replaced with a 3D-printed implant made by Oxford Performance Materials (OPM), a Connecticut-based company in the US. The surgery this week was the first time a patient received an implant made specifically for him using 3D printing technology.

The patient, whose name and injury OPM would not disclose, had his head scanned as part of the procedure.

Advertisement

The operation marks a big step in the advancement of 3D printing technology, the company said. With 3D printers, users can produce objects with a moulding machine based on digital models.

The 3D printing technology is ideal for implants custom-shaped to each patient's anatomy, the company said.

OPM president and chief executive Scott Defelice said 3D printing allows any type of bone to be replaced with an implant. The technology can shorten surgery time, be less risky and cost less, he said.